Iskandar-Singapore Rapid Transport system link gets go ahead

Additional cross border bus services between Singapore and Iskandar Malaysia have been approved and are being implemented.

The Joint Ministerial Committee agreed to boost connectivity by further increasing the quota for cross border bus services, and to improve cross border taxi services by liberalising the pick-up and drop-off points on the domestic leg of the journey by July 2011. In addition, the JMC approved a joint engineering study for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) link between Iskandar Malaysia and Singapore. Officials from both sides will endeavour to gather international best practices in the implementation of a dual co-located Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) system to complement the RTS link.

The JMC noted with satisfaction that Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited have achieved good progress in the discussions on the development of an iconic project with a wellness theme in Iskandar Malaysia, which is targeted to be launched in May 2011.

The river cleaning project in the Iskandar Malaysia is progressing well, and officials from both sides will be co-operating on capacity building programmes to enhance the skills and knowledge of officials involved in environmental management.

The JMC also endorsed the recommendations by the Tourism Work Group on the development and marketing of a trans-boundary, joint eco-tourism attraction involving Singapore’s Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Iskandar Malaysia’s three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai. The first phase will involve the twinning of Pulau Kukup and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

The eight working meeting of the Malaysia – Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) for Iskandar Malaysia  took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, in Singapore. The meeting was co-chaired by Y.B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Malaysia Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and H.E. Minister Mah Bow Tan, Singapore Minister for National Development. Also present were the Chief Minister of Johor, Y.A.B. Dato’ Haji Abdul Ghani Othman and Singapore Minister for Transport, H.E. Minister Raymond Lim. By invitation, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail joined the meeting. Senior officials from both countries were also present.